Alignment

[CrazyM]

I am going to be getting an alignment done on my car. I am wondering, If I do the alignment with stock rims, and then put my aftermarket rims on, will that affect my alignment? AKA. waste my money?

Thanks, Mike

 

[snowborder714]

More than likely it'll change when you put on the aftermarket rims (unless they are the exact same size). I would wait until you put on the aftermarket ones if you plan on running them from now on.

 

[1992awdlaser]

Yes it will change the readings. I have done alignments for about 6 years so believe me when I say that.

 

[CrazyM]

That's what I figured, but thought I would just confirm it. Thanks guys.

 

[1992awdlaser]

No problem. Anything else just ask. The rims in your profile picture aren't the oes you are talking about are they?

 

[snowborder714]

That avatar picture is great! That's awesome you used it (kenamond will probably laugh next time he sees that!).

My, how I love Photoshop.

 

[CrazyM]

No problem. Anything else just ask. The rims in your profile picture aren't the oes you are talking about are they?

haha no no. The OE's are the stupid laser mesh looking wheels those are the fun in the sun rims


and yes, I sure did use that pic!

 

[1992awdlaser]

I meant to say ones not oes. I like the wheels that came on my laser. They were bronze/gold with a polished lip. They only came on a few lasers that I have seen.

 

[wret]

Yes it will change the readings. I have done alignments for about 6 years so believe me when I say that.

Can you explain how resting on wheels of any size will change alignment geometry?

 

[1992awdlaser]

Do you mean how different size wheels will have different reading on an alignment?

 

[wret]

No. Nothing about the wheel and tire size will affect alignment. You could roll into the shop with four donuts and get a perfectly accurate alignment that would be just as accurate when you change them for any other size, providing they are same at all four corners.

 

[1992awdlaser]

I have seen it happen when I was doing the alignments. There isn't a big change but it does change. Just like if you get an alignment done with bald tires and then put new tire on it the alignment will change. I have watched that happen also. That is why most alignment shops will put the tires on before doing an alignment if the customer is getting both done. What did you mean in post #9?

 

[wret]

The intent of asking the question in post 9 was to help me and others understand how wheel and tire size can have any possible effect on alignment angles. Whether the tires have new tread or are completely bald does not transmit to the suspension. I align my car with all four tires sitting on top of scrap wood, are you implying that it will no longer be in alignment back on the ground, and if so, how is this different than having a few more or less milimeters of tread under the tire? Is there an altitude adjustment on your alignment equipment?

 

[Jetrosr]

Well I've been doing alignments and such for almost 20 yrs., and I just can't see how tire/wheel size has much of anything to do with alignment. I think the small differences one would see would not be related to changing the tire and wheel size, but more small variances in set-up. It will change alignment if the tires have large differences in tread wear or are different sizes front and rear, or putting wheels on with crazy negative offset. Don't mean to call anyone out, but at the same time I feel compelled to pass on what I've learned.

 

[1992awdlaser]

There is no reason for comments like the altitude adjustment one(I know you weren't being serious about that). I am speaking from experiance. Go try it out on an alignment machine and I bet it will change. Are you saying that tire pressure won't change an aligment also? I don't have an accurate answer of how it changes it. But experiance from doing hundreds if not thousands of alignments has shown me that it will do what I said. Just go try it out on a machine and see what happens. I'm done.

 

[wret]

Of course a car handles differently with varying tire pressure and tread width, but it has nothing to do with alignment angles. People check alignement after buying new tires to protect their investment, not because the thickness of the rubber as affected the suspension angles. Finding it off means that it was already off, not that it changed with new rubber.

The altitude comment was meant to stress how silly the idea was, not to offend. You obviously believe in what you are saying. Don't quit. Convince me I'm wrong, but you'll need to support it with something more than instinct.

 

[Dave532]

Having done a fair share of alignments as well, here's a couple things to consider:

Pick whatever wheel it is easier to hang the gauges on (if that is what the rack uses)
Pick whatever wheel you want to have the least damage on (in case the shop equipment scratches your wheels)

Otherwise it will not make enough difference to worry about. A minor change in tire pressure will make a much more significant difference.

 

[1992awdlaser]

Of course a car handles differently with varying tire pressure and tread width, but it has nothing to do with alignment angles. People check alignement after buying new tires to protect their investment, not because the thickness of the rubber as affected the suspension angles. Finding it off means that it was already off, not that it changed with new rubber.

The altitude comment was meant to stress how silly the idea was, not to offend. You obviously believe in what you are saying. Don't quit. Convince me I'm wrong, but you'll need to support it with something more than instinct.

Thats not what I meant by doing the alignment after new tires. I meant when somebody wants to do both most of the time the place will do the tire then the alignment instead of the alignment then the tires. Keep in mind I did say there won't be a significant change in the alignment. Air pressure will also change the alignment. That is the first thing I got taught when I went to a Hunter alignment class to get certified by them. The best I can do to prove what I am saying to you is when my knee gets better(I broke it in five places) and I get a job I can do an alignment on my car with the stock wheels and then with the drag wheels and take pictures of the readings with a digital camera. Or I coul do the alignment at 30psi in the tires then lower all of them and show how the readings changed. Again, it won't be significant but it will change(more with the pressure differance most of the time then with rim differance). If you want me to do that I will if I remember to by the time my knee is better.

 

[SPOOL1NLASER]

The vehicles air pressure and low tread can affect a vehicles alignment angle not the vehicles wheel and tire size. The alignment heads are attached to the wheel and the measurment is taking from the wheels center or (hub area) and is forwarded to the computer for calibration and then recorded and analyzed with all four wheels to give your readings. The computer doesnt see wheel size or diameter. Unless you have vehicle frame and suspension damage its nothing to worry about.

 

[Defiant]

An offset change will affect the alignment settings, won't it?

 

[asexton6969]

Typically no, because the alignment machine, basically takes "pictures" and divides the car down the center. Unless you were to have wheels that one or all had different offset.

 

[CrazyM]

Wow this topic has a few different answers. The overall census seems like it is telling me to get the alignment after I put my rims back on.

Maybe some numbers will help in the 'correct' answer. My stock wheels\tires are, 16*the stock rim width(unsure of) and 205\55\16 tires. The after-market rims are 17*7.5 with 225\45\17 tires.